FCC to vote on 29 October on spectrum auction to boost direct-to-device satellite services

The US Federal Communications Commission said on Wednesday it will vote on 29 October on whether to advance a new auction of wireless spectrum to boost “direct-to-device” services, which let ordinary smartphones connect directly to satellites, Reuters reported.

The commission will also hold an initial vote on modernising its direct-to-device rules and finalise rules allowing drone operations in the 800 MHz cellular band. Direct-to-device technology is being developed by SpaceX and Amazon’s Leo, Channel News Asia reported.

The FCC is proposing to auction 25 MHz of key spectrum for direct-to-device operations and make a further 482 MHz available for supplemental coverage from space. Chair Brendan Carr said the proposals “work to continue leveraging this cutting-edge tech to end cell phone dead zones and provide service directly from next-gen satellite constellations to your smartphone”.

Carr said last month that a series of upcoming spectrum auctions over the next couple of years could generate more than $100 billion in proceeds.

The vote follows two SpaceX milestones. In January the FCC approved deploying 7,500 more second-generation Starlink satellites, bringing the total to 15,000. Late on Tuesday it approved SpaceX’s plan to use 65 MHz of spectrum bought from EchoStar for $19.6 billion, through two deals announced last year, to expand direct-to-device services, LA Post reported.

More on the commission’s spectrum agenda.